AFL Crows vs Demons Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 17, 2025
Last updated: Jul 4, 2025, 3:33AM | Published: Jul 2, 2025, 9:34AM
Draftstars Australia's AFL Crows vs Demons Round 17 DFS contest kicks off at 3:15pm AEST on July 6, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for AFL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' AFL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 17.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the best DFS projections in the world.
With the best AFL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more AFL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed players from each team in the Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne match-up to help you find the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB, RK) | $17,440 | 111.9 | 6.4 |
| Value | Koltyn Tholstrup (MELB, MID/FWD) | $6,000 | 53.7 | 8.9 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL, MID) | $10,940 | 62 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Matthew Jefferson (MELB, RK/FWD) | $6,000 | 50.6 | 8.4 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks provide the most "bang for your buck," meaning they're expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For budget-conscious strategies, "cheapie" options highlight the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
DEF (Defender)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Rory Laird (ADEL) | $14,050 | 89.6 | 6.4 |
| Value | Judd McVee (MELB) | $7,560 | 60.1 | 7.9 |
| Fade | Wayne Milera (ADEL) | $11,320 | 66.2 | 5.8 |
| Cheapie | Isaac Cumming (ADEL) | $9,000 | 62.7 | 7 |
MID (Midfielder)
| Selection | Salary | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jordan Dawson (ADEL) | $16,460 | 108 | 6.6 |
| Value | Koltyn Tholstrup (MELB) | $6,000 | 53.7 | 8.9 |
| Fade | Daniel Curtin (ADEL) | $10,940 | 62 | 5.7 |
| Cheapie | Harry Sharp (MELB) | $6,000 | 49.1 | 8.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Izak Rankine (ADEL) | $13,190 | 83.6 | 6.3 |
| Value | Koltyn Tholstrup (MELB) | $6,000 | 53.7 | 8.9 |
| Fade | Kysaiah Pickett (MELB) | $13,740 | 83.4 | 6.1 |
| Cheapie | Matthew Jefferson (MELB) | $6,000 | 50.6 | 8.4 |
RK (Ruckman)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Max Gawn (MELB) | $17,440 | 111.9 | 6.4 |
| Value | Matthew Jefferson (MELB) | $6,000 | 50.6 | 8.4 |
Conclusion
When building your AFL Crows vs Demons Round 17 teams, consider starting with a value player like Koltyn Tholstrup. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Max Gawn is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Matthew Jefferson.
On the other hand, according to our model, Daniel Curtin is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' AFL Crows vs Demons slate closes at 3:15pm AEST on Sunday. ENTER NOW!
As with all AFL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven AFL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the AFL Crows vs Demons Round 17 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your AFL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised AFL Crows vs Demons line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
For more on this game, dive into our full Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne prediction, where you will find the latest odds and tips for the main betting markets.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
